Soundcard Discussion

[thekl0wn]

Yes, this is a Audio/Video Electronics topic... With the CarPC (CarPuter/TruckPuter/HoePuter/etc) becoming more-and-more popular, it's creeping into this realm.

I've read up on MP3car.com on the different options for sound cards. That forums tastes are a bit different than this one. There are a few good members who are into doing things right, but some annoy me.

I'm interested to see what all is brought up on the topic of soundcards, especially considering I'm in the process of picking mine out, and I know of a few others in the same boat!

My initial thoughts:
Sound Blaster... Overrated. Some of the lines are good, but you pay for the name. A major advantage is the KXaudio projects/drivers for tuning via ASIO. In my experiences, some of the older "upper-end" cards won't work (as intended) on XP. I have an older Audigy & Live that neither work other than stereo on XP, no matter what I've tried.

M-Audio... Good. I've only used one M-Audio card in the past, and it was their cheapest one at the time, but I loved it. Everything I've read on them has been pretty good, and they offer some options that lean more towards the pro audio end of things, at a good price. I've looked into the Pre-USB and 1010LT.

Turtle Beach... Cheap in price... I have no complaints about anything Turtle Beach I've used. For a budget card, they're pretty dang good. Only issues I've had with them is conflicting drivers.

DAC: HippoHiFi... I've been waiting to try one of the Bloats out. Seeing that I'm leaning towards going optical to processor, I don't know that I'll get to though... Bummer. I'd LOVE to hear others feedback on one of these, or any other HQ DAC.

Let me know if I'm off on any of the devices. Let's hear some other thoughts on the topic...

[tonkadawg]

Great idea for this thread. I wish I had some meaningful information to add, but my carpc is the first I've had for entertainment purposes only - everything else has been for work. I'll definitely be watching this thread so hopefully I can learn about sound cards and pick one that I'll be happy with.

[thekl0wn]

Another option to mention is going optical to an external processor. This would alleviate some of the issues of the OS degrading sound quality. On optical out, the PC has no control over the volume, and bypasses the issues in the next paragraph. It is up to the processor (I'm talking something like the RF 3sixty, or pro-grade processor) to handle the volume then.

Something that not everyone knows is that in Windows, for digital music playback (i.e. MP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, etc.) you should open up your volume control and set your WAV volume to 100%. Anything less and you are getting a bit-loss, because that is how the OS actually controls the WAV volume is by systematically removing bits from the sound stream! The master volume is handled a bit differently.

In theory, SPDIF to processor, even with an on-board optical out should be a VERY good option. You have no digital-to-analog-to-digital-to-analog conversions... You simply stay digital, until it leaves the processor at line level to go to your amps. Now, if you went with something like Zapco's DSP-6 or DSP amps, you could remain digital until the signal leaves the AMP! BUT be prepared to drop some Benjamins for this option.

edit: nix the idea on the 3sixty... Doesn't appear to have digital-in.

[BassBaller5]

what advantages would you have running a car processor (h701, RF 360) compared to a computer controlled home audio processor (Behringer DCX-2496)?

[Mattman24]

awsome idea for a thread its boneifined badass

but anyway i bump x2 for bassballer5's Q

[Mattman24]

anybody locate that chaintech one M5 told us about

[tonkadawg]

Originally Posted by Mattman24

anybody locate that chaintech one M5 told us about

still looking

[thekl0wn]

Originally Posted by BassBaller5

what advantages would you have running a car processor (h701, RF 360) compared to a computer controlled home audio processor (Behringer DCX-2496)?

The obvious ones I come up with right off the bat would be space and power. A MAJOR one, to me at least, is pricing. Yes, the Behringer unit is an exception, but if you look at other "more respected" brands, you're getting up over $2K, just whispering the name! I'm not knocking Behringer... I really can't, because I've used/have/will purchase Behringer products in the past... They're in my budget!

I've got a thread going over on MP3car.com about PC-Controlled processors: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/high...-cheating.html

[thekl0wn]

Here's the listing I had over there:

Behringer DCX2496
Behringer DEQ2496
BSS Audio Sounweb 9088iis
dbx Driverack 480 - Forums
Peavey VSX-48
PPI DCX-730 pdf
Rane RPM26z
Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.1
Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.2
Zapco DSP-6

[BassBaller5]

i would kill for one of those Rane units! a guy on DIYMA was selling one for a while.

[thekl0wn]

Oh, and yesterday at the Guitar Center here in town, I was looking at the pro end of things, and I came across Crown's XTi (I believe) series amps... They have digital-in, EQ's, X-over's, and possibly TA? on the amps themselves... Current would be the killer here, but that would be a sweet-looking setup in the back of the 'Hoe. Open the barn doors and there's a REAL rack! Maybe if I mount a generator on the roof!

[thekl0wn]

Here's some nice-looking cards... Of various prices, specs, etc:

ASUS
Xonar D2 & Xonar D2X

AuzenTech
X-Plosion 7.1

E-MU
0404
Analog & Digital I/O. Moderately cheap.

M-Audio
1010LT
10-in/10-out (8X8-analog; 2X2-SPDIF) internal with breakout
AudioPhile 2496
2-in/2-out Full Duplex Digital I/O PCI-interface RCA's! CHEAP!
Delta 44
4-in/4-out PCI-interface (external)
FireWire 410
4-in/10-out Firewire-interface (external) Analog-out.

Sound Blaster
SB Live! SB0490

[BassBaller5]

would an onboard audio card be better than an external?

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...13&modelmenu=2

[thekl0wn]

Originally Posted by BassBaller5

would an onboard audio card be better than an external?

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...13&modelmenu=2

Not IMO... On-board, for the most part uses cheaper chipsets, and you can also introduce a lot of noise having it located on the mobo. IMO, look into some of the budget-minded sound cards before using on-board.

[///M5]

Only onboard worth using is SPDIF out as it doesn't matter then. Probably my preference.

I had an M-audio great card for the price, have a Chaintech AV710 for cheap it is by far the best (sorry if they are hard to find now, I bought mine 3 years ago but bought one for Adrian on SSA 2 months ago for $12), and I have a E-Mu 0404. The 404 is the best out of the bunch sound wise, but isn't worth nearly 10x the price of the AV710. You only need two good ouput channels so it is a great solution.

I had a really old Turtle Beach, in the day they were the chit but have gone majorly downhill. The Audigy and other SB is gamer crap and useless for music in comparison with evertyhing else I have listed.

The best is probably the Digital Audio Labs card, but they don't come cheap. Used I have seen them for under $150, but pretty much painful for a used PC card. Unlike most though it is actually worth it. As far as I know from a testing perspective it is the only card on the market with phase matched stereo channels. The rest will have variance in phase and worse yet it won't be consistent with frequency The DAL card is superb!!

[thekl0wn]

Does anyone know the options for S/PDIF on the amp/processor ends? What companies offer inputs?

[tonkadawg]

figured this was probably the best place for this link It's a wiki on tuning via software - some good info there

[thekl0wn]

I look at that wiki weekly... And then have to remind myself, "Whoa, I'm not that far along yet!"